20230812 Fire at Bowbazar building, 16 rescued
India Aug 12 2023 “Building” “Houses”
Dead : dead 0 or unknown Burnout : 1 to 29 Injured : injured 0 or unknown
Fire at Bowbazar building, 16 rescued
Updated: 2023-08-12
KOLKATA: A fire broke out on the basement of a nine-storey building in the congested area of Bowbazar early on Friday morning, trapping 16 residents on the upper floors.
A number of commercial establishments are located on these floors. However, the fire department and the DMG managed to rescue everyone unhurt. The flames were brought under control in four hours. According to sources, the fire call was received around 7.40am and three fire tenders were rushed to the spot. Gauging the importance of the fire, two more tenders were dispatched in the next one hour.
The fire fighters had to wear gas masks and carry oxygen with them as they got reports of multiple blasts of chemical barrels, most containing adhesive. The rescue operations were also hampered due to the narrow pathway.
A few firefighters complained of dizziness and were promptly attended to by doctors. They rescued at least a dozen people residing on the upper floors. While some of them were brought down, the elderly were taken to the terrace only to be brought down after the situation normalized. Several office representatives were asked to go to their offices and retrieve cash and other important documents. In the end though, none of the offices were majorly damaged.
Co-owners of the building, Debaprasad Saha (80) and wife Kanika (75), who reside on the fourth floor, said they smelled burnt chemicals around 6.45am. The building was soon filled with smoke. “We had begun to feel suffocated when the fire officers reached my flat and escorted us to the ground safely,” said Debaprasad.
“We are waiting for the fire department to file their complaint, after which an FIR will be launched,” said an investigating officer.
Web Source: The Times of India